scholarly journals Appendage-Mediated Surface Adherence of Sulfolobus solfataricus

2009 ◽  
Vol 192 (1) ◽  
pp. 104-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Behnam Zolghadr ◽  
Andreas Klingl ◽  
Andrea Koerdt ◽  
Arnold J. M. Driessen ◽  
Reinhard Rachel ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Attachment of microorganisms to surfaces is a prerequisite for colonization and biofilm formation. The hyperthermophilic crenarchaeote Sulfolobus solfataricus was able to attach to a variety of surfaces, such as glass, mica, pyrite, and carbon-coated gold grids. Deletion mutant analysis showed that for initial attachment the presence of flagella and pili is essential. Attached cells produced extracellular polysaccharides containing mannose, galactose, and N-acetylglucosamine. Genes possibly involved in the production of the extracellular polysaccharides were identified.

2019 ◽  
Vol 98 (7) ◽  
pp. 739-745 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Cugini ◽  
M. Shanmugam ◽  
N. Landge ◽  
N. Ramasubbu

The oral cavity contains a rich consortium of exopolysaccharide-producing microbes. These extracellular polysaccharides comprise a major component of the oral biofilm. Together with extracellular proteins, DNA, and lipids, they form the biofilm matrix, which contributes to bacterial colonization, biofilm formation and maintenance, and pathogenesis. While a number of oral microbes have been studied in detail with regard to biofilm formation and pathogenesis, the exopolysaccharides have been well characterized for only select organisms, namely Streptococcus mutans and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. Studies on the exopolysaccharides of other oral organisms, however, are in their infancy. In this review, we present the current research on exopolysaccharides of oral microbes regarding their biosynthesis, regulation, contributions to biofilm formation and stability of the matrix, and immune evasion. In addition, insight into the role of exopolysaccharides in biofilms is highlighted through the evaluation of emerging techniques such as pH probing of biofilm colonies, solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance for macromolecular interactions within biofilms, and super-resolution microscopy analysis of biofilm development. Finally, exopolysaccharide as a potential nutrient source for species within a biofilm is discussed.


2008 ◽  
Vol 190 (8) ◽  
pp. 2759-2766 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. S. R. K. Maddula ◽  
E. A. Pierson ◽  
L. S. Pierson

ABSTRACT Pseudomonas chlororaphis strain 30-84 is a plant-beneficial bacterium that is able to control take-all disease of wheat caused by the fungal pathogen Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici. The production of phenazines (PZs) by strain 30-84 is the primary mechanism of pathogen inhibition and contributes to the persistence of strain 30-84 in the rhizosphere. PZ production is regulated in part by the PhzR/PhzI quorum-sensing (QS) system. Previous flow cell analyses demonstrated that QS and PZs are involved in biofilm formation in P. chlororaphis (V. S. R. K. Maddula, Z. Zhang, E. A. Pierson, and L. S. Pierson III, Microb. Ecol. 52:289-301, 2006). P. chlororaphis produces mainly two PZs, phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA) and 2-hydroxy-PCA (2-OH-PCA). In the present study, we examined the effect of altering the ratio of PZs produced by P. chlororaphis on biofilm formation and pathogen inhibition. As part of this study, we generated derivatives of strain 30-84 that produced only PCA or overproduced 2-OH-PCA. Using flow cell assays, we found that these PZ-altered derivatives of strain 30-84 differed from the wild type in initial attachment, mature biofilm architecture, and dispersal from biofilms. For example, increased 2-OH-PCA production promoted initial attachment and altered the three-dimensional structure of the mature biofilm relative to the wild type. Additionally, both alterations promoted thicker biofilm development and lowered dispersal rates compared to the wild type. The PZ-altered derivatives of strain 30-84 also differed in their ability to inhibit the fungal pathogen G. graminis var. tritici. Loss of 2-OH-PCA resulted in a significant reduction in the inhibition of G. graminis var. tritici. Our findings suggest that alterations in the ratios of antibiotic secondary metabolites synthesized by an organism may have complex and wide-ranging effects on its biology.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yucui Liu ◽  
Yanxin Huang ◽  
Cong Fan ◽  
Zhongmei Chi ◽  
Miao Bai ◽  
...  

Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans), the prime pathogen of dental caries, can secrete glucosyltransferases (GTFs) to synthesize extracellular polysaccharides (EPSs), which are the virulence determinants of cariogenic biofilms. Ursolic acid, a type of pentacyclic triterpene natural compound, has shown potential antibiofilm effects on S. mutans. To investigate the mechanisms of ursolic acid-mediated inhibition of S. mutans biofilm formation, we first demonstrated that ursolic acid could decrease the viability and structural integrity of biofilms, as evidenced by XTT, crystal violet, and live/dead staining assays. Then, we further revealed that ursolic acid could compete with the inherent substrate to occupy the catalytic center of GTFs to inhibit EPS formation, and this was confirmed by GTF activity assays, computer simulations, site-directed mutagenesis, and capillary electrophoresis (CE). In conclusion, ursolic acid can decrease bacterial viability and prevent S. mutans biofilm formation by binding and inhibiting the activity of GTFs.


2015 ◽  
Vol 1130 ◽  
pp. 141-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qian Li ◽  
Rui Yong Zhang ◽  
Beate A. Krok ◽  
Mario Vera ◽  
Wolfgang Sand

In this study, initial attachment to and biofilm formation of Sulfobacillusthermosulfidooxidans DSM 9293T on pyrite in the presence of Leptospirillumferriphilum DSM 14647T were investigated. Interactions of S.thermosulfidooxidansT and L.ferriphilumT were studied by means of monitoring attachment behavior and biofilm formation on pyrite. Our preliminary results showed that 1): Pre-established biofilms of L.ferriphilumT had effects on attachment of S. thermosulfidooxidansT to pyrite; 2): physical contact between cells of L. ferriphilumT and S. thermosulfidooxidansT on pyrite were visible 3): Pyrite leaching by cells of S. thermosulfidooxidansT was inhibited by the presence of inactive cells of L.ferriphilumT.


2007 ◽  
Vol 189 (22) ◽  
pp. 8233-8240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esther Heikens ◽  
Marc J. M. Bonten ◽  
Rob J. L. Willems

ABSTRACT Enterococci have emerged as important nosocomial pathogens with resistance to multiple antibiotics. Adhesion to abiotic materials and biofilm formation on medical devices are considered important virulence properties. A single clonal lineage of Enterococcus faecium, complex 17 (CC17), appears to be a successful nosocomial pathogen, and most CC17 isolates harbor the enterococcal surface protein gene, esp. In this study, we constructed an esp insertion-deletion mutant in a clinical E. faecium CC17 isolate. In addition, initial adherence and biofilm assays were performed. Compared to the wild-type strain, the esp insertion-deletion mutant no longer produced Esp on the cell surface and had significantly lower initial adherence to polystyrene and significantly less biofilm formation, resulting in levels of biofilm comparable to those of an esp-negative isolate. Capacities for initial adherence and biofilm formation were restored in the insertion-deletion mutant by in trans complementation with esp. These results identify Esp as the first documented determinant in E. faecium CC17 with an important role in biofilm formation, which is an essential factor in infection pathogenesis.


2003 ◽  
Vol 69 (8) ◽  
pp. 4814-4822 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann-Cathrin Olofsson ◽  
Malte Hermansson ◽  
Hans Elwing

ABSTRACT N-Acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) is used in medical treatment of patients with chronic bronchitis. The positive effects of NAC treatment have primarily been attributed to the mucus-dissolving properties of NAC, as well as its ability to decrease biofilm formation, which reduces bacterial infections. Our results suggest that NAC also may be an interesting candidate for use as an agent to reduce and prevent biofilm formation on stainless steel surfaces in environments typical of paper mill plants. Using 10 different bacterial strains isolated from a paper mill, we found that the mode of action of NAC is chemical, as well as biological, in the case of bacterial adhesion to stainless steel surfaces. The initial adhesion of bacteria is dependent on the wettability of the substratum. NAC was shown to bind to stainless steel, increasing the wettability of the surface. Moreover, NAC decreased bacterial adhesion and even detached bacteria that were adhering to stainless steel surfaces. Growth of various bacteria, as monocultures or in a multispecies community, was inhibited at different concentrations of NAC. We also found that there was no detectable degradation of extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) by NAC, indicating that NAC reduced the production of EPS, in most bacteria tested, even at concentrations at which growth was not affected. Altogether, the presence of NAC changes the texture of the biofilm formed and makes NAC an interesting candidate for use as a general inhibitor of formation of bacterial biofilms on stainless steel surfaces.


RSC Advances ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (56) ◽  
pp. 32453-32461
Author(s):  
Yan-Ping Wu ◽  
Xiao-Yan Liu ◽  
Jin-Rong Bai ◽  
Hong-Chen Xie ◽  
Si-Liang Ye ◽  
...  

3-p-trans-Coumaroyl-2-hydroxyquinic acid (CHQA), a natural phenolic compound, prevented Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation due to the inhibition of the initial attachment stage of biofilm development by targeting sortase A.


2009 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michaela Wagner ◽  
Silvia Berkner ◽  
Malgorzata Ajon ◽  
Arnold J.M. Driessen ◽  
Georg Lipps ◽  
...  

Although Sulfolobus species are among the best studied archaeal micro-organisms, the development and availability of genetic tools has lagged behind. In the present paper, we discuss the latest progress in understanding recombination events of exogenous DNA into the chromosomes of Sulfolobus solfataricus and Sulfolobus acidocaldarius and their application in the construction of targeted-deletion mutant strains.


Extremophiles ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Koerdt ◽  
S. Jachlewski ◽  
A. Ghosh ◽  
J. Wingender ◽  
B. Siebers ◽  
...  

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